Thorough exam for injured Makateng ahead of AFCON tie
NTHAKO MAJORO
MASERU – A thorough assessment awaits prolific Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) FC and national team Likuena striker, Katleho Makateng, ahead of the national team’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Comoros. Makateng suffered a concussion in an international practice match against Namibia at Wits Stadium in South Africa last Thursday.
Likuena are away to Comoros in the two teams’ opening match of the 2023 Total Energies AFCON group stage qualifiers to take place this afternoon. The game had to be halted for about 30 minutes while Makateng was given attention before he was taken to Netcare Milpark Hospital in South Africa where he was discharged on the same day.
According to the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) Media Officer, Mikia Kalati, Makateng would be assessed for the Comoros match. “Makateng is okay,” said Kalati in an interview with Public Eye on Monday this week. “He is doing light training and will be assessed for the Comoros game.” Likuena beat Namibia 2-1 with goals from Jane Thabantšo and Retšelisitsoe Mopeli, both in the second half of the game.
Likuena played two other international friendly matches against Ethiopia away last Saturday and on Monday this week, and drew 1-1 in both of them. The Namibia practice match and two Ethiopia matches formed part of Likuena’s preparation for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Comoros today and Ivory Coast next Thursday.
Likuena are also pitted against Zambia in Group H of the AFCON qualifiers. The Lesotho team eliminated Seychelles from the AFCON qualifiers, beating them 3-1 in the second leg of the preliminary stage following a goalless draw in the first leg. Makateng was instrumental for Likuena’ victory over Seychelles as he scored a brace in that match.
The LDF FC striker is the 2020/21 Vodacom Premier League top goal-scorer with 20 goals. His outstanding performance saw LDF FC finishing second on the 16-team log table behind Matlama on top of log.
